Fog On Rockhold Creek

It was thick this morning.  Unlike my last post, there is nothing very majestic about this, but it’s pretty amazing that it’s this thick.  We get this 7-8 times a year, typically spring and fall.

Cay of Sea is just right of center, 50 meters from my back door.

There were charters and pleasure boats going out in this. Not my cup of soup!

By noon, the fog had cleared away and we had a nice afternoon of 60+ degrees.  We sailed for about an 1.5 hours, returning just at dusk.  Wonderful sailing, in fact – most of the time we were traveling 5.5 knots.  This will be one of our last sails for the year.  We may get out once or twice more before we haul out in early December.

 

Cruising Plans Cancelled

I planned (and still plan) to reassemble Cay of Sea’s anchor platform today, having completed my goals for refinishing and deck sealing.  The ultimate goal was to get another over-night on board in one of our semi-local favorite anchorages.  Late-season cruising is beautiful on the Chesapeake, especially as we are at the peak of autumn color right now.

However, Hurricane Sandy and an early season winter storm have altered our plans.  Forecasts call for Sandy making landfall on Monday evening, just in time to converge with the nor’easter that’s going to blow in from the mid-west.  Weather forecasters are predicting a super-perfect storm worse than what we saw in 1991.  Here’s a link to NWS Philadelphia’s severe weather warning:  NWS Philly.

Source: http://www.weather.com/maps/

We could actually make our over-night without bumping into a hurricane or a nor’easter, returning on Saturday as we had planned.  But that would short-change my prep time for the storm – remember, we live on the water.  I’ve got stuff to do:  Lay in supplies to survive a few days without power, secure the property so that damage is minimized, prepare the boat for bad weather.

Tomorrow’s forecast also calls for morning fog in this area.  I don’t mind fog, but I do mind how other boaters operate their vessels in fog.  I won’t move if the fog is thick.  It just isn’t worth the risk of getting run down by a heedless boater.  So rather than being stuck for hours in the fog, then pressing home at a less-than-leisurely-pace, I think we’ll just stay home this weekend.  There will be a few more nice days to cruise before we haul out in early December.